Access door



Aug. 9, 1932. 'I M. P, PQTTER 1,871,342

ACCESS DOOR 4 INI/NTOR. Myron P Poer Patented Aug. 9, 1932 UNIT PATENT ACCESS DOOR Application led February 27, 1928. Serial No. 257,176.

This invention relates to access doors and doorways for buildings.

In the design and construction of buildings, particularly hospitals, oliice buildings, churches and public buildings generally but often in private dwellings as well, it is customary to provide control stations for water, gas, electricity, etc., at convenient points throughout the building. The gas valves, water valves, lavatory and bath tub valves, electric switches, circuit terminals, etc., are located in recesses or chambers in the walls, floors or ceilings, and the recesses or chambers, are provided with suitable doors or 5 covers by which they maybe sealed, protected and made finished and pleasing in appearance. In some instances the station is so located that an aperture extending entirely through the wall is. provided to give access to it. Heretofore, such vaccessdoors or doorways, while .functioning mechanically, have usually been so constructed as to be unadaptable to a pleasing appearance. They have comprised hinges and other protruding structural features on the exterior visible portions, and the screws, bolts or the like, by which they have been constructed and installed, have further detracted from their appearance. Furthermore, in installations where clean and sanitary Vconditions are desired, such as in hospitals and homes, such access doors have been diiicult to care for. Furthermore, in installations in which it is desired 4to have access doors harmonize in color with light colored walls and interiors, it has been diicult to keep the door clean because of the depositing of soot and other discoloration on the visible surfaces,

due to the circulation of air outwardly.`

through the joints and crevices of the access door; and because of the settling of dust on the projecting portions; and also because the janitor or engineer in usingthe door'closes it after having handled the usually dirtyv valves and the like in the recess, and therefore leaves linger marks on the door.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an access doorway and door of improved construction, which will be cheap to manufacture and easy to install.

Another object is to provide an access doorway and door which when closed is substantially flush with the finished surface of the wall in which it is installed, and is wholly free from projecting features or portions of any kind whatsoever, whereby it is perfectly dustproof and may be. kept perfectly clean and sanitary.

Another object is to provide an access door and doorway which may be opened and closed and latched or unlatched bythe use of the blade of a pocket knife, ordinary screw driver and the like, without ltouching the hand to the door, whereby soiling of the face of the door-or trim, particularlywhen finished in light color, may be prevented. f

Another object is to provide lan ,access door and` doorway, the door of which is hinged and which, nevertheless, is substantially airtight when closed. Y i Y Another object is to provide an access door and doorway so constructed that the attachlng devices for holding the door and other external parts in position to cover the recess may be installedafter the wall or the like is completely finished and by reaching through the open doorway from the nished side of the wall. j l

Other Aobjects will be apparent fromthe following description of my invention, considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, illustrating'the preferred embodiment thereof.` v

In thedrawing, Fig. lis a front elevational view of myimproved access door and dporway. Y I

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view of thedoor and doorway installed in a wall 90 to cover an aperture through the wall, the section being taken from the plane 3 3 of Fig. 2 or of Fig. 1. f f

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken from the plane 44 of Fig. l; or taken from 95 the plane 4 4 of Fig. 2 and turned through 180.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 with the door in the partly open position and with some of the parts omitted for simplicity.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a latch shown in Fig. 4.

I have illustrated my invention as applied to an interior wall 1 of a building one face 2 of which is finished with a layer of plaster 3 and having an aperture 4 extending entirely through the wall, through which a person on the finished side of the wall may reach to have access to valves, switches or the like not shown. The aperture 4 is rectangular (in the plane of the wall) and may be cut in the' wall after the wall is built but is preferably formed during the construction of the build'- ing; and I will describe the construction, installation and operation of my invention in relation to the latter case.

During the construction of the wall 1 a rectangular wooden buck or frame 5 is set in the wall, substantially filling the aperture as shown, andsecured in position by anchoring it in the material of the wall in any known or suitable manner. Prior to the application of the layer of plaster 3 to the wall, a metal door `"frame 6 is mounted within and secured -to'the buck 5 by screws 7-7. The doorframe 6 preferably comprises a rectangularv annular frame, having an internally directed annular ange, and is best described from the cross sections thereof which are shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The cross section of thedoorframe 6 in vertical and horizontal planes, respectively, in these figures is that of an angle `iron having, as shown, along leg 8 and a short leg 9. The annular frame 6 is of the saine shape as-the inside of the buck v5, but slightly smaller, and is adapted to be set inside the buck and secured therein with a'space 10 all around the frame between the frame and the buck. The 'frame is secured in this position by means of the screws 7-7 inserted through suitable holes in the leg 8 of the frame 6 and screwed into the buck. 'The exactl position of the'` frame 6 is' predetermined ybefore the screws are 'driven and this position lis such that the edge of the frame, or of the long leg 8 thereof, will lie in the plane of the finished-surface 3a of the layerof plaster 3 which is to be applied. Y

kThe further installation of the'device is then suspended until the plaster 3 is applied. In applyinothe plaster the edge 11 ofthe frame may be used as a troweling edge to Y make a perfectly tight as Well as perfectly plane union between the frame edge 11 and the plaster surface 3a. Some of the plaster, during the application thereof, will eXud'e into the space 10 around the Vframe 6 as shown at 12.

It will thus be seen that the space 10 serves two purposes. It obviates the necessity of a perfect fit between the frame 6 and the buck 5, permitting the use of cheap roughly made bucks and, by permitting the plaster to exude into the space 10, effects a tight seal between the frame 6 and the plaster 3.

`The remainder of the structure to be installed consists of a door and trim therefor, and these may be installed at any time after the plaster 3 has set, but, particularly in cases in which the interior finish of the room is light in color, these parts are preferably installed after everything else is finished.

These parts will now be described. They comprise door 14 and trim 15 therefor, preferably made of sheet metal; the door being mounted within the trim in a manner to be described, so that the door and trim are -flush with each other and their exterior faces in a plane; and they comprise further the means for securing the door'and trim in the doorway.

The trim 15 as shown is a planular, hollow."

rectangle.y Secured to the inner surface thereof is an annular rectangular metal trim support 16,'thel cross sectional shape of which in verticaljand horizontal planes as shown respectively in Figs. 3 and 4 is that of a channel iron, with theV flanges 17 and 18 thereof inwardly directed. The flange 17 lies flat against the inner face of the trim 15 and is secured thereto in -any suitable manner, as by welding; thev other flange 18, serves a purpose to be described.v rPhe channel-form trim support 16 is, as shown, of smaller eX- ternal perimeter than the inside of the frame 6, but is of the same general rectangular shape thereof; and when installed the trim support lies within the frame 6 las shown. The door 14 is provided with upperA and lower hinge trunuions 19 and 2() secured to the inner face of the door, as by welding; and secured to the flange 18 of thetrim support are upper and lower angle pieces 21 and 22, having perforations to receive the ends of the trunnions 19 and 20, the arrangement providing upper and lower hinges Vupon which the door 14 is supported `and hinged upon the trim support 16.

To install .the door, trim and trim support, the trim support 16, carrying the trim 15 and door 14. `is 'set within the doorframe 6, and shoved back into the frame until the inner face of the trim 15 lies fiat against the surface 3a of the finished plaster layer 3, as at 23. The door 14 is then opened, andthe workman reaches through the open doorway and inserts bolts 24-24 through suitable holes in the fiange 9 and on through regis-i tering holes in the flange 18 and puts the nuts 25 on the bolts. He then draws the nuts up tight, or screws the bolts tight intothe nuts, thus drawing the trim 15 tight against the wall face 3a, making an air tight seal, as

at 23.4 If there is any compression of thek plaster layer 3. the trim 15 will be drawn tight upragainst the edge 11 of the frame 6.

The hinge trunnions 19, 20, the trim support 16, andthe angle pieces 21, 22, all beingv on the inside of the door and trim, it is needless to add that when the door is closed the exterior surface of the door and trim are perfectly free from projecting parts or features and may be perfectly plane. The periphery of the trim 15 may be beveled or otherwise reduced to a thin edge at 26, as shown.

To preserve the integrity of the planular surface of the door and trim, a latch for holding the door closed is provided, all the parts of which are behind the door or iiush with its outer' surface. The latch comprises a bearing bracket 27, preferably welded to the inside of the. door; and a rotatable latch 28 between the bracket and the inner surface of the door. The latch 28 has a trunnion 29 in a suitable bearing in the bracket, and a trunnion 3() in an aperture in the door, the

end of the trunnion 30 being flush with the doorface. A slotted recess 31 in the trunnion 30 is provided, adapted to receive the end of a screw driver or a knife blade, whereby the latch may be rotated to engage the inner face of the trim to hold the door shut, or' vice versa to permit it to be opened. Byv tilting the handle of the screw driver or knife toward one side, while in the slot, enough friction will be created for opening the door with the screw driver.

The inner vface of the trim 15 is provided wit-ha flange 32 on the upper Vand lower horizontal sides and on the side opposite the hinges, against which the door 14 is stopped and sealed. On the remaining or hinge side, a stop fia nge 33 is provided on tliendoor itself, and when the door is'closed, stops or abuts against the adjacent inner 'or unflanged face of the trim. If desired a thin felt gasket 34 may be secured to the door or to the said anges to further seal and make airtight the contact between the door and trim in kthe closed position.

It will be noted that the line of the hinges is placed somewhat inside of the adjacent edge of the door, in order that the said edge, upon closing the door, will have movement toward the trim and may, therefore, be sealed tightly against it.

While I have shown a simple latch 28 for holding the door closed, it will be understood that any suitable device may be employed for this purpose. For example, any suitable form of lock may he employed; and in such cases the recess or slot 31 may represent a key slot for a grooved or flat key; in such case also the key may be used to pull the door open or close it.

I claim:

1. In a device for accessibly covering a` wall recess, a frame rigidly secured in the recess, a trim adapted to lie flat against the wall face, a trim frame on the trim, a door hinged to the trim frame, means connecting the frame and trim frame for drawing the trim frame toward the frame and securing it against the ing flush with the trim.

3.'In a device for accessibly covering ay wall recess, attachment means adapted to be secured in the recess, a door and a door trim hinged together, attaching means connected to the trim, operable means for connecting the attaching means to the attachment means to secure the door and trim in position to cover the recess, said operable means being so positioned as to be manually operable through the doorway when the door is in the open position, and said attachment, attaching and operable means and the hinges lying wholly behind the door and trim.

4. In a device for accessibly covering a wall recess, an attachment frame adapted to be secured in the recess before a nishing surface is put on the wall, and having an edge adapted to be positioned in the plane of the finished surface and flush with which the finished surface may be applied, a door and a trim therefor, attaching means connected t0 the trim,and means for connecting the attaching means with the attachment means tQ secure the trim and door in position to cover the recess after the finished surface has been applied and to draw the trim up against the finished surface.

5. A device as in claim 4 in which the connecting means is manually operable through the doorway when the door is in the open position.

6. A device as in claim 4 in which the attaching, attachment and lconnecting means are all wholly behind the door and trim.

In a device for accessibly covering a wall recess, a trim, a door hingedly connected with the trim, a flange on the door at one edge thereof adapted to overlap the vtrim and flanges on the trim adapted to overlap the other edges of the door when the door is in the closed position, two of the said trim flanges meeting the said door flange in a plane containing the hinge axis and at right anglesy to the plane of the door.

8. In a device for accessibly covering a wall recess. a trim, a door hingedly connected with the trim, a flange on the door at one edge thereof adapted to overlap the trim and flanges 'on the trim adapted to overlap the other edges of the door when the door is in the closed position, two of the said trim flanges meeting the said door flange in a plane containing the hinge axis and at right ico anglesto the plane oi'thedoor and also meeting the said door flange in planes at right angles thereto.

9. In .a device for ziccessibly covering a Wall recess, a frame rigidly secured in the recess, a trim adapted to lie Hat against the Wall recess, a trim frame on the trim, a recess cover secured to `the trim frame, means cony meeting the frame and trim frame for draw.- 3 ing the trim frame toward the frame and securno'v it thereto to draw the trim firmly against the Wall.

In'testimony whereof, I have hereunto signedV my name.

A MYRON P. POTTER. 

